Linwell: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

| foaled = 1948<ref name="pedigree">{{cite web|url=https://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=2340707&registry=T&horse_name==Linwell&dam_name==Rubia%20Linda%20%28GB%29&foaling_year=1948&nicking_stats_indicator=Y|title=Linwell pedigree |website=Equineline|date=2016-04-22|accessdate=2016-04-22}}</ref>

| breeder = James F. Delany

| record =

| race = [[Anthony Mildmay, Peter Cazalet Memorial Chase|Mildmay Memorial Chase]] (1956)<br />[[Cheltenham Gold Cup]] (1957)

Linwell was a small bay gelding with a broad white [[blaze (horse marking)|blaze]] and two white [[sock (horse marking)|socks]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sporthorse-data.com/d?showpic=10442248&nm=2&time=1439125103|title=Linwell images|author=Hugh McMahon|date=24 April 2016|publisher=The Sport Horse Show and Breed Database|access-date=24 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531121925/http://www.sporthorse-data.com/d?showpic=10442248&nm=2&time=1439125103|archive-date=31 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> bred in Ireland by James F. Delany.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefestival2016.co.uk/hall-of-fame/1950s/#gKjzhJWp33ZAwmqJ.97|title=1950s – Cheltenham|work=Cheltenham Festival official site}}</ref> He was sired by Rosewell, a British-bred horse who won the [[Irish Derby]] in 1938 and whose other offspring included the [[Champion Hurdle]] winner [[Distel (horse)|Distel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.curragh.ie/derby150/1931%E2%80%931940.html|title=The Curragh Racecourse – Irish Derby 150|publisher=The Curragh Racecourse}}</ref> His dam Rubia Linda came from a family which produced several other good jumpers: her sister Miss Kilcash was the dam of the mare [[Kerstin (horse)|Kerstin]] who became one of Linwell's biggest rivals.

As a five-year-old he was bought for £750 from the [[County Tipperary]]-based horse-dealer Paddy Quinn, by Ivor Herbert on behalf of his friend and patron David Brown, the owner of [[Aston Martin]]. Herbert was a well-known racing journalist and the potential conflict of interest led to the racing authorities banning him from holding a trainer's licence: his horses were therefore officially trained by Charlie Mallon, the head of his stable staff ("head lad"). The gelding was originally named Floral Tribute but his name was changed after he moved to England.<ref name="Harman">{{cite book | last = Harman | first = Bob | title = The Ultimate Dream: The History of the Cheltenham Gold Cup| publisher=Mainstream Publishing | year = 2000| isbn = 1-84018-381-0}}</ref>

Linwell began his career on the amateur [[Point-to-point (steeplechase)|point-to-point]] circuit and fell on his debut when he was ridden by Ivor Herbert. After the gelding showed some promise on his subsequent starts Herbert brought in the experienced professional jockey [[Michael Scudamore]] to school the horse and improve his jumping.<ref name="Harman"/> Scudamore also rode the race when he was matched against professional opposition in the 1954/55 season and won three times in [[Novice (racehorse)|Novice]] steeplechases. In the following season he won five times, including wide margin victories at [[Newbury Racecourse|Newbury]] in December and [[Hurst Park]] in January<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19560120&id=7C81AAAAIBAJ&sjid=DqYLAAAAIBAJ&pg=3808,2176509&hl=en|title=Linwell can win Mildmay Memorial|date=20 January 1956|author="White and Gold"|work=Glasgow Herald}}</ref> and the [[Anthony Mildmay, Peter Cazalet Memorial Chase|Mildmay Memorial]] at [[Sandown Park]]. In the last-named race he was ridden by Rex Hamey, who received the winner's trophy from the [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Queen Mother]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Jockey-played-major-role-horse-racing-s-greatest/story-20831534-detail/story.html|title=Jockey played a major role on horse racing's greatest stages|date=20 March 2014|work=[[Western Daily Press]]}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In November 1957 Linwell carried top weight of 170 pounds in the inaugural running of the [[Hennessy Gold Cup]] at [[Newbury Racecourse]]. He finished second, beaten three lengths by the French-bred six-year-old [[Mandarin (horse)|Mandarin]] to whom he was conceding sixteen pounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19580313&id=KnxAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oqMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2294,1483644&hl=en|title=Scottish hunter's splendid finish|author="White and Gold"|date=13 March 1958|work=Glasgow Herald}}</ref> He also won twice and finished second on two other occasions that season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19580212&id=wi81AAAAIBAJ&sjid=EKYLAAAAIBAJ&pg=4112,4785859&hl=en|title=Polar Flight meets Gold Cup winner|date=12 February 1958|author="White and Gold"|work=Glasgow Herald}}</ref> On 13 March Linwell started second favourite, behind Mandarin, as he attempted to win his second Gold Cup. Eight fences from the finish Mandarin fell, badly hampering Linwell who unseated Michael Scudamore. With the two leading contenders out of the contest, the race was won by Kerstin.<ref name="Harman"/>

In December 1958 Linwell jumped poorly when beaten at odds of 1/8 in a chase at [[Windsor Racecourse]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19581213&id=0GhAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XpUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3789,5344366&hl=en|title=Linwell beaten into third place at Windsor|author="White and Gold"|date=13 December 1958|work=[[Glasgow Herald]]}}</ref> He made another attempt to win the Gold Cup in March 1959 and started the 11/2 third favourite behind [[Taxidermist (horse)|Taxidermist]] and [[Roddy Owen]]. As the leaders approached the final fence the race appeared lie between Linwell (now ridden by [[Fred Winter]]), [[Pas Seul]] and Lochroe with Roddy Owen four lengths back in third. Pas Seul fell, badly obstructing Linwell who in turn hampered Lochroe, allowing Roddy Owen to sweep into the lead. Linwell rallied up the run-in but was unable to catch the leader and finished second, beaten three lengths.<ref name="Harman"/>

In their book, ''A Century of Champions'', based on the [[Timeform]] rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Linwell an "average" Gold Cup winner.<ref name="century">{{cite book|last1=Morris| first1=Tony|last2=Randall|first2=John|title=A Century of Champions|publisher= Portway Press|year=1999|isbn=9781901570151}}</ref> He is remembered in the name of Linwell Close, a residential street in Cheltenham.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/swindonvillage_history.asp?area=Swindon+Village%2C+Wyman%27s+Brook|title=Cheltenham Areas: History of Swindon Village and Wyman's Brook|publisher=cheltenham4u.co.uk|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330165106/http://www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/swindonvillage_history.asp?area=Swindon+Village,+Wyman's+Brook|archivedate=2016-03-30}}</ref>

|mmmm = Candelabra (Family: 17-b)<ref name="tbl">{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family17b.htm |title=Biddy – Family 17-b |publisher=Thoroughbred Bloodlines |date= |accessdate=2014-08-17}}</ref>}}